Prediction of death anxiety of elderly living in elderly care centers based on cognitive distortions, loneliness, and stress coping strategies

Introduction: Death anxiety of the elderly may be influenced by individual differences and many psychological factors. The purpose of this study was to predict death anxiety of elderly living in elderly care centers based on cognitive distortions, loneliness, and stress coping strategies. Method: The research design is an analytical descriptive. The statistical population of this study was all elderly living in elderly care centers of Tehran. 120 persons were selected, as a sample by available sampling method from two centers of Sabzomid and Parnian. Research tools include Templer death anxiety scale (1970), beck and wiseman's cognitive distortion questionnaire (1987), Russell, Papelo and Katrona's loneliness questionnaire (1980) and Andler & Parker's (1990) coping strategies questionnaire. After checking and confirming the assumptions, Research data were analyzed by multiple linear regression method in SPSS, v 23. Results: The results of demographic variable showed that most of the sample group were men and ages 70 to 75 years old. Data analysis results show that cognitive distortion has a significant positive correlation with death anxiety (p <0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between loneliness and death anxiety (p <0.05). Additionally, negative relationship between problem-oriented coping strategy and death anxiety in elderly was confirmed (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on research results, choosing appropriate coping strategies against stress, reducing loneliness and cognitive distortion can be associated with decreasing the death anxiety in the elderly living in the elderly homes.